Introduction to Psychology

Lecture 3: The Biological Bases of Behavior

Date: July 8, 2024

Key Concepts

1. Neurons and Neural Communication

o Neurons: Basic building blocks of the nervous system.
o Structure:
 Dendrites: Receive messages.
 Cell body (Soma): Contains the nucleus, processes information.
 Axon: Transmits messages away from the cell body.
 Myelin Sheath: Covers the axon, helps speed neural impulses.
o Neural Transmission:
 Action Potential: Electrical charge that travels down the axon.
 Synapse: Gap between neurons where communication occurs.
 Neurotransmitters: Chemical messengers that cross synapses (e.g.,
dopamine, serotonin).
2. Central and Peripheral Nervous Systems
o Central Nervous System (CNS):
 Brain: Controls most functions of the body and mind.
 Spinal Cord: Pathway for messages sent by the brain to the body and
from the body to the brain.
o Peripheral Nervous System (PNS):
 Somatic Nervous System: Controls voluntary movements.
 Autonomic Nervous System (ANS): Controls involuntary responses.
 Sympathetic Nervous System: Prepares body for action (fight or
flight).
 Parasympathetic Nervous System: Calms the body and
conserves energy (rest and digest).
3. Brain Structure and Function
o Hindbrain:
 Medulla: Controls vital functions (e.g., heart rate, breathing).
 Pons: Relays messages between the cerebrum and the cerebellum;
involved in sleep and arousal.
 Cerebellum: Coordinates voluntary movements, balance, and posture.
o Midbrain:
 Tectum and Tegmentum: Involved in sensory and motor functions.
o Forebrain:
  Thalamus: Relay station for sensory information.
 Hypothalamus: Regulates basic drives (e.g., hunger, thirst, temperature).
 Limbic System: Involved in emotions, motivation, and memory (includes
the amygdala and hippocampus).
 Cerebral Cortex: Outer layer of the brain, responsible for complex
mental functions (divided into four lobes: frontal, parietal, temporal,
occipital).
4. Brain Imaging Techniques
o EEG (Electroencephalogram): Measures electrical activity in the brain.
o MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging): Uses magnetic fields to produce detailed
images of the brain.
o fMRI (Functional MRI): Measures brain activity by detecting changes in blood
flow.
o PET (Positron Emission Tomography): Uses radioactive substances to visualize
brain activity.

Key Terms

 Neuron
 Action Potential
 Synapse
 Neurotransmitter
 Central Nervous System (CNS)

 Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

 Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)
 Cerebral Cortex
 MRI
 fMRI

Important Points to Remember

 Neural communication is both electrical (action potentials) and chemical

(neurotransmitters).
 Different parts of the brain have specialized functions but also work together to perform
complex tasks.
 Brain imaging techniques are crucial for understanding the structure and function of the
brain in living individuals.

Questions for Further Study

1. How do neurotransmitters influence behavior and mood?

 2. What are the effects of damage to specific brain regions on behavior and cognition?
3. How do the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems interact during stress?

Readings

 Textbook: Chapter 2, "Biological Bases of Behavior"

 Articles:
o "Neural Pathways and Behavior" by Dr. Smith
o "Advances in Brain Imaging Techniques" by Dr. Jones